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334th Fighter Squadron [334th FS](Base Code: SJ)

The 334th was constituted by War Department letter on Aug. 22, 1942, and activated at Bushey Hall, England, on Sept. 12, along with its sister squadrons, the 335th and 336th. The three Eagle squadrons, formerly composed of american volunteers in the Royal Air Force, were assigned to the 4th Fighter Group - the first Army Air Corps unit activated in the European Theater during World War II - and were based at Debden airfield, Essex, England.

As former members of RAF 71st Squadron, the 334th fighting Eagles continued to fly British Spitfires until the arrival of the P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft in 1943. About a year later the squadron changed to the P-51 Mustang, which served as the primary aircraft for the remainder of the war.

The 334th led its sister squadrons in air battle accomplishments against the German Luftwaffe, with 395 kills - 210 in the air and 185 on the ground.

The 334th moved to Andrews AFB, Md., in April 1947 and was equipped with the F-80 Shooting Star aircraft. In 1949, the squadron moved to Langley AFB, Va., and was reequipped with F-86 Sabre aircraft. By November of that year, the Fighter Eagles were enroute to Korea. The 334th was credited with the destruction of 142.5 enemy aircraft during the Korean Conflict and added six mor aces to its rolls.

Maj. George A. Davis Jr., a 334th pilot, received the Medal of Honor. The leading ace of the Korean War at the time, Major Davis was shot down in a MiG battle on Feb. 10, 1952. The major had destoryed his 13th and 14th MiGs of the war and was zeroing in on another when a MiG pulled in behind and shot him down.

The 334th remained in the Far East until Dec. 8, 1957, when it was reassigned to Seymour Johnson AFB as a unit of the 4th Fighter Day Wing. The unit flew the F-100 Super Sabres until mid-1959 when transition to the F-105 Thunderchief aircraft began.

After a six-month tour of Southeast Asia, the 334th returned to Seymour Johnson in February 1966 and began instructing new pilots in F-105 operations. The Fighting Eagles rushed to Korea in January 1968, supporting operations during the Pueblo incident. The squadron returned to Seymour Johnson in June 1968.

The 334th flew its first F-15E sorties on Jan. 1, 1991. During this month the squadron served as the host unit for several units deploying to Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Additionally, 334th aircrews and support personnel deployed to Operation Desert Storm as augmentees. The squadron became operational in the F-15E on June 18, 1991, and deployed to Saudi Arabia the next day to relieve remaining elements of the 335th, providing combat air patrol and ground alert forces supporting withdrawalof troops from Operation Desert Storm.